Born William Clark Gable on the 1st February 1901, in Cadiz, Ohio USA, he was a legendary actor, best known to the world for appearing in such films as “Gone With The Wind” (1939), “It Happened One Night” (1934), and “Mutiny On The Bounty”, among others, all of which increased his net worth. Clark Gable passed away in November 1960.
Have you ever wondered how rich Clark Gable was, at the time of his death? According to authoritative sources, it has been estimated that Clark Gable`s net worth was as high as $100 million, an amount he acquired through his appearances in films, but also, through his stage appearances.
Clark Gable Net Worth $100 Million
Clark was the son of William Henry Gable and his wife Adeline, who died when Clark was only ten months old. His father remarried, to Jennie Dunlap when Clark was two years old, and Jennie raised Clark as her son, and even taught him how to play piano. However, as he grew older, he became interested in brass instruments, and joined the men`s town band when he was only 13. Three years later, his father was near bankruptcy and Clark started working on a farm to help the family. Nevertheless, the following year his aspirations to become an actor began, after watching the play “Birds of Paradise”. He had worked several jobs in order to finance his acting career, and began by joining second-class theaters, and slowly building his way up in the acting scene. He then met Josephine Dillon, who became his acting coach; she then started paying for expenses, and the two moved to Hollywood.
Clark`s first appearances were brief roles in silent films, such as “The Merry Widow” (1925) and “The Johnstown Flood” (1926), among others. After these initial appearances, Clark still couldn`t land any major roles, and so focused on stage productions, finding engagements in the plays “Machinal”, and “The Last Mile”, after which he received a contract from MGM. Following minor roles in films “The Painted Desert” (1931), “Night Nurse” (1931), and “The Secret Six” (1931), Clark began to feature in more popular films, including “A Free Soul” (1931), “Dance, Fools, “Dance” (1932) alongside Joan Crawford, “Red Dust” (1932) with Jean Harlow, and “Hold Your Man” (1933) again with Jean Harlow. During the 1930s, Clark`s net worth rose immensely, from appearing in such blockbuster films as “It Happened One Night” (1934), “China Seas” (1935), “Call Of The Wild” (1935) alongside Loretta Young, “San Francisco” (1936), “Saratoga” (1937) in which he also starred with Jean Harlow, “Test Pilot” (1938) with Myrna Loy, and the role which marked his career, as Rhett Butler in “Gone With The Wind” (1939) with Vivien Leigh.
Clark continued successfully in the early 1940s, appearing in such films as “Boom Town” (1940), “Comrade X” (1940), and “Somewhere I`ll Find You” (1942), before joining the U.S. Army Air Force in 1942. He spent two years in Army, reaching the rank of Major and serving briefly with missions over Europe, and upon discharge he returned to acting.
Continuing where he left off, it was only a matter of time before Clark would make another successful appearance. In 1947 he starred with Ava Gardner in the film “The Hucksters”, and the following year appeared with Lana Turner in “Homecoming”. Before the 1950s, Clark had roles in “Command Decision” (1948), and “Any Number Can Play” (1949).
His first role in the new decade was in the film “Key To The City” (1950), in which he reunited with Loretta Young, followed by appearances in less successful films “To Please A Lady” (1950), “Lone Star” (1952), “Never Let Me Go” (1953), and “Soldier Of Fortune” (1955).
In the second half of the 1950s, his fame was restored by appearances in “Run Silent Run Deep” (1958), “Teacher`s Pet” (1958), “It Started In Naples” (1960), with Sophia Loren, and his last appearance before death, “The Misfits” (1961), with Marilyn Monroe.
Thanks to his career Clark received numerous prestigious awards, including the Academy Award in the category Best Actor in a Leading Role for his work on the film “It Happened One Night”, and two Academy Award nominations in the category Best Actor in a Leading Role, for the films “Mutiny On The Bounty”, and “Gone With The Wind”. Furthermore, Clark received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960, for his achievement in motion pictures.
Regarding is personal life, Clark was married five times; his first wife was his acting teacher and manager Josephine Dillon,from 1924 to 1930. Next year, he married Maria Langham but they divorced in 1939. His third wife was Carole Lombard, and their marriage lasted from 1939 until 1942, when Carole died. Seven years later, he married Sylvia Ashley, and the two were married until 1952.
His last marriage was with Kay Williams, in 1955, and the two remained married until his death. She gave birth to his son, several months after his death.
Clark also had a daughter with actress Loretta Young, called Judy, however, Loretta hid her pregnancy from Clark and the media, and also stated that Clark had raped her.
Apart from his marriages, Clark also had several affairs, which included celebrities such as Joan Crawford, Grace Kelly, and Virginia Grey.
Clark suffered a heart attack on the 6th November 1960, and ten days later he died in a hospital bed, despite positive doctor`s prognosis. Clark`s resting place is at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California in the Great Mausoleum, Memorial Terrace, Sanctuary of Trust, Mausoleum Crypt 5868, besides Carole Lombard.
